Alumni Updates Fall 2011

Michael Vlach

Credential 2005, MA 2006

With a social science credential and a background in spelling and geography bees as well as academic decathlons, it’s not a big stretch to audition for the “Jeopardy!” quiz show on television, right?

Michael Vlach, a computer technology teacher and assistant water polo coach at Dixon High School, had the right stuff and appeared on the show on June 15. He earned a second place showing and modest cash winnings, but Vlach has no future plans for another game show appearance. “I thought it would be a fun experience,” he said. “I didn’t really expect anything out of it.”  Television career aside, Vlach would like to explore photography and travel more in his spare time.

Nancy McTygue

BA 1988, Credential 1989, MA 1996

A former high school history and government teacher, Nancy McTygue is the executive director of the California History-Social Science Project,which is based at UC Davis. Featured in the summer issue of UC Davis Magazine, McTygue says she has long fought against what she considers the “marginalization of the discipline” of history. She works to support and advocate for history teachers—over 400 partake each year in the History Project’s classes and seminars with some of America’s top historians.

Teresa (Mathews) Gary

BA 1969, Credential 1970

After 34 years as a high school English teacher, administrator and district superintendent, Terry Gary is retired and enjoying her second career as a volunteer with NorCal Sheltie Rescue. She has fostered over 40 dogs and recently wrote English for Dogs, a book that focuses on “teaching English as a ‘second language’ to dogs, keeping the words and phrases short,simple and consistent, and using positive training methods,” says Gary. Her husband Clifton Gary (BA 1969, Credential 1971) took all the photographs for the book.

Shayna (Glickman) Peeff

Credential 2005, MA 2006

After teaching elementary grades in the Lafayette School District for the past six years, Shayna Peeff is teaching sixth grade core (reading, writing, history) in the district’s Stanley Middle School this year; she herself attended these schools as a child. In 2008, Peeff earned her administrative credential at Saint Mary’s College. In addition to teaching, she is a research advisor at Saint Mary’s for the Teacher Leadership program, helping teachers with their action research projects for their master’s degrees. “I continue to love teaching and enjoy taking on new challenges each year,” Peeff said.